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DARIEN, Conn. — A New Haven man was charged with striking his ex-girlfriend and taking her car in Darien after an argument that began after she refused to give him a ride home, according to police.

At around 11:12 p.m. on Oct. 31, police responded to the area of Post Road and Thorndal Circle in Darien on a report of an assault. They were told that the person who had been assaulted was in the area, and that the suspect had fled on foot. When they arrived officers found a woman lying on the roadway, and were able to locate the suspect, identified as 21-year-old Devin Natividad of New Haven, walking in the area of Post Road and Day Street, according to police.

The woman said she had been dating Natividad and that their relationship had ended recently but they still worked together at an establishment in the area, police said. She said that they had gotten into an argument that evening because Natividad had asked her for a ride home and she had refused, at which point he became angry and physically blocked her from leaving by holding her shoulders, according to police.

It wasn't until a manager became involved that she was able to leave, but Natividad followed her to her car, according to police. She told police that he knocked her hat off her head, took her cell phone and smashed it, and took her purse and emptied the contents onto the ground. He then began kicking her car as she gathered her belongings, police said.

When she confronted him, Natividad struck her in the stomach and tried to wrestle her to the ground, according to police. He took her purse and began to walk away on the Post Road, and she got into her car and caught up to him, police said.

When get got out of her car to confront him, Natividad jumped into her car and drove away about a half mile down the Post Road, police said. He then got out, locked the car and left on foot with the keys, according to police.

Police said that several witnesses corroborated the woman's story, and Natividad was charged with breach of peace, second-degree criminal mischief, use of a motor vehicle without the owner's permission, and second-degree unlawful restraint. The woman declined medical attention.